Neirembergia plant named ‘Blue Eye’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Nierembergia  plant named ‘Blue Eye’, characterized by its semi-upright to cascading plant habit; freely branching habit; numerous large single flowers that are white in color with purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification: Nierembergia hippomanica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Blue Eye’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nierembergia plant, botanically known as Nierembergia hippomanica, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Blue Eye’.

The new Nierembergia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Nierembergia hippomanica identified as code number 1121-3, not patented. The new Nierembergia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Aichi, Japan in April, 1998, from within a population of plants of the parent selection.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal vegetative cuttings since September, 1998, in Aichi, Japan has shown that the unique features of this new Nierembergia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Blue Eye have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Blue Eye’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Blue Eye’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nierembergia:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to cascading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Numerous large single flowers that are white in color with         purple-colored centers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nierembergia are most similar to plants of the parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Aichi, Japan, plants of the new Nierembergia differed from plants of the parent selection:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nierembergia were more uniform in plant         habit than plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Nierembergia had larger flowers than plants         of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Nierembergia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Sunnicobu, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,934. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Nierembergia differed from plants of the cultivar Sunnicobu in flower size as plants of the new Nierembergia had larger flowers than plants of the cultivar Sunnicobu. In addition, plants of the Nierembergia and the cultivar Sunnicobu differed in flower coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nierembergia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flower of ‘Blue Eye’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Blue Eye’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following obsevations and measurements describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., in an outdoor nursery during the spring under full sun conditions with day temperatures ranging from about 18° C. to about 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about 18° C. After planting rooted cuttings, plants were grown for about twelve weeks in 12.5-cm containers. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nierembergia hippomanica cultivar Blue     Eye. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of Nierembergia hippomanica identified as code number     1121-3, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two to three weeks.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three to four weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine; white, close to 155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, then semi-upright to outwardly spreading and             cascading; uniformly mounded plant form. Freely branching             habit with about eight primary branches, secondary lateral             branches developing potentially at every node. Vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread), single plant.—About 43 cm.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous; rapid growth rate.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 mm. Internode length: About 8 mm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple;             sessile. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: 146A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces:             146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers             face mostly upward or outward; terminal and axillary. Freely             flowering habit, about 18 open flowers and about 20 flower             buds per primary lateral branch. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring though Autumn in Bonsall,             Calif.; flowering continuous during this period. Flowers             persistent.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.8 cm. Height: About 2.5 cm.             Tube length: About 2 cm. Throat diameter, distal end: About             4 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 1 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: 157A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals fused in a             single whorl, funnelform; slender corolla tube. Length from             throat: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Roughly             fan-shaped, rounded. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire;             reflexing at apices. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: Ground             color, 85D; towards the base, 85A to 85B; center, 12B. When             opening, lower surface: 85D. Fully opened, upper surface:             Ground color, 155D; towards the base, 84A to 84B; center,             12B. Fully opened, lower surface: 155D. Flower throat             (inside): 12B. Flower tube (outside): 157A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, star-shaped. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             five. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             color: 6B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 6A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.7 cm. Style             length: About 1.4 cm. Style color: 145D. Stigma shape:             Anvil-shaped. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: 146B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and/or fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Nierembergia have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Nierembergia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nierembergia have been     observed to have good garden performance. Plants of the new     Nierembergia have been noted to tolerate temperatures from 0 to     40° C. and have excellent tolerance to rain and wind. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nierembergia plant named ‘Blue Eye’, as illustrated and described. 